Method for treating bacterial infections with 2-acetyl- and 2-propionylpyridine thiosemicarbazones

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to various 2-acetyl- and 2-propionylpyridine thiosemicarbazones which are substituted on the 4-nitrogen atom. These compounds are useful in the treatment of gonorrhea and, in addition, many are useful either in the treatment of malaria or bacterial infection. Also disclosed are several synthetic procedures used to prepare the thiosemicarbazones.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 004,247 filed Jan. 4, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,776.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the use of the following compounds and their pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salts in the treatment of gonorrhea, malaria, or bacterial infection: ##STR1## where

R is methyl or ethyl;

R₁ is alkyl, preferably having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or, more preferably, 6 to 12 carbon atoms; cycloalkyl, preferably having 3 to 10 carbon atoms; substituted alkyl wherein the alkyl group preferably has 1 to 12 carbon atoms and the substituent group is amino, alkylamino (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms), dialkylamino (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms in each alkyl group), cycloalkyl (preferably 3 to 10 carbon atoms), hydroxy, COO alkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group), phenyl, or pyridyl; alkenyl, preferably having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; alkynyl, preferably having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; substituted benzyl wherein the substituent is methyl or phenyl on the alpha carbon atom, or the substituent is alkyl (preferably methyl), dialkyl (preferably dimethyl), halo, dihalo, or alkoxy (preferably ethoxy) on the phenyl ring; adamantyl; phenyl; naphthyl; substituted phenyl or substituted naphthyl wherein the ring is mono-, di-, or trisubstituted and the substituents are alkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms), halo (preferably fluoro), alkoxy (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms), hydroxy, pheroxy, trifluoromethyl, dialkyl (preferably dimethyl) amino, dialkylaminoalkyl (preferably diethylaminomethyl), or COO alkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group); pyridyl; thienyl; indolyl; furyl; acridyl; quinolyl; or pyridazinyl; and

R₂ is hydrogen or is selected from the group of radicals listed above for R₁, in which case R₁ and R₂ may be the same or different; or

R₁ and R₂ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of:

(1) alkylenimino;

(2) alkylenimino which may contain one double bond and/or is mono- or disubstituted with alkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms), hydroxy, phenyl, or benzyl;

(3) alkylenimino which is either bridged by an alkylene group (preferably 2 carbon atoms) or is fused to a phenyl ring; or is attached by a spiro linkage to an ethylene ketal group;

(4) homopiperazinyl; homopiperazinyl substituted with alkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms); piperazinyl; or piperazinyl substituted with alkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms), dialkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms in each alkyl group), phenyl, COO alkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group), trifluoromethylphenyl, halophenyl, benzyl, or pyridyl; and

(5) morpholino, dialkyl (preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms in each alkyl group) morpholino.

When R₁ and R₂ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, the resulting heterocyclic ring is preferably one of the following: azetidino; pyrrolidino; 2, 5-dimethyl pyrrolidino; piperidino; ##STR2## (wherein X is 2-methyl, 3-methyl, 4-methyl, 2-ethyl, 4-hydroxy, 4-phenyl, or 4-benzyl); hexamethylenimino; octamethylenimino; dodecamethylenimino; 2, 6-dimethyl piperidino; 3, 5-dimethyl piperidino; morpholino; 3, 5-dimethylmorpholino; ##STR3## (wherein Z is methyl, phenyl, 3-trifluoromethyl phenyl, benzyl, COO Et, 3-pyridyl, 2-pyridyl, or 4-fluorophenyl); ##STR4## azacyclotridecyl; ##STR5##

In this disclosure, it is understood that COO alkyl represents the alkyl carboxylic acid ester; for example, COO Et represents the ethyl carboxylic acid ester.

While evidence indicates that all of the above-described compounds and their pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salts are useful in the treatment of gonorrhea, in addition many of the compounds and salts are useful either in the treatment of malaria or bacterial infection. Such use of the above-described compounds and salts is included in the present invention. Moreover, the above-described compounds per se, and their pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salts, are included in the invention provided that: when R₂ is hydrogen, then R₁ cannot be ethyl, isopropyl, or monochlorophenyl.

With respect to the pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salts of this invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that such salts are contemplated only where the structural features of the compounds permit their preparation. As non-limiting examples of acids used to prepare such salts are mentioned hydrochloric and hydrobromic acids.

Synthetic Procedures

Three synthetic procedures proved to be useful for preparing the thiosemicarbazones of this invention.

In Scheme A, a primary amine was converted to the corresponding isothiocyanate (1), ordinarily by employing thiophosgene. Reaction of 1 with hydrazine afforded a thiosemicarbazide 2. Condensation of this intermediate with 2-acetylpyridine provided the 4-monosubstituted thiosemicarbazone 3. However, only thiosemicarbazones monosubstituted at position 4 can be prepared in this manner, ##STR6## as 2-acetylpyridine proved to be usually resistant to condensation with 2,4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazides.

In Scheme B, reaction of hydrazine and carbon disulfide in the presence of sodium hydroxide yielded a carbodithioate. Alkylation of this carbodithioate with either iodomethane or dimethyl sulfate gave methyl hydrazinecarbodithioate (4). Condensation of 4 with 2-acetylpyridine gave the versatile intermediate, methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene] hydrazinecarbodithioate, 5. Reaction of 5 with primary amines gave 4-monosubstituted thiosemicarbazones such as 3 while secondary amines or cyclic amines produced 4,4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazones, 6. In addition, reaction of 5 was not limited to more active nucleophiles, as excellent yields could be obtained with many primary aromatic amines. However, 5 was resistant to reaction with some secondary aromatic amines, such as N-methylaniline. ##STR7##

Scheme C involved the reaction of 2-acetylpyridine with hydrazine to yield the hydrazone 7. Reaction of this hydrazone with an isothiocyanate 1 produced a 4-monosubstituted thiosemicarbazone 3. This reaction was especially useful when the required isothiocyanate was commercially available.

WORKING EXAMPLES

The working examples set forth below illustrate the preparation of representative compounds and salts, but in no way limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 2-Acetylpyridine 4-allyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure C)

A solution of 2.7 g (0.02 mol) of 2-acetylpyridine hydrazone in 5 mL of MeOH was treated with 3.1 g (0.03 mol) of allyl isothiocyanate and the solution was heated at reflux for 3 hr. The solution was cooled and the product which formed was collected. The crude material was recrystallized 3 times from MeOH, affording 2.5 g (49%) of white needles of 2-acetylpyridine 4-allyl-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 107° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₁ H₁₄ N₄ S: C, 56.38; H, 6.02; N, 23.91; S, 13.68. Found: C, 56.09; H, 6.11; N, 24.36; S, 13.89.

EXAMPLE 2 2-Acetylpyridine 4-cyclohexyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure C)

A solution of 6.76 g (0.05 mol) of 2-acetylpyridine hydrazone in 10 mL of MeOH was treated with 7.2 g (0.05 mol) of cyclohexyl isothiocyanate and the solution was heated at reflux for 3 hr. The solution was chilled, and the crystals which formed were collected. Recrystallization of the product from 150 mL of MeOH afforded 6.40 g (46%) of white needles of 2-acetylpyridine 4-cyclohexyl-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 155° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₄ H₂₀ N₄ S: C, 60.84; H, 7.29; N, 20.27; S, 11.60. Found: C, 60.76; H, 7.19; N, 20.16; S, 11.72.

EXAMPLE 3 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone dihydrobromide (Procedure A)

By the application of the procedure of R. S. McElhinney [J. Chem. Soc. (c), 950 (1966)], 2-diethylaminoethyl isothiocyanate, (bp 54°-55° C./1.5 mm Hg), was prepared in 20% yield.

Analysis Calcd. for C₇ H₁₄ N₂ S: C, 53.12; H, 8.92; N, 17.70; S, 20.26. Found: C, 52.97; H, 8.76; N, 18.01; S, 20.47.

A solution of 1 g (0.063 mol) of 2-diethylaminoethyl isothiocyanate in 5 mL of MeCN was treated with 0.3 g (0.063 mol) of 85% hydrazine hydrate. The solution was heated at reflux for 10 min and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was then recrystallized from C₆ H₆ affording 750 mg (63%) of white needles of 4-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide, mp 83°-83.5° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₇ H₁₈ N₄ S: C, 44.18; H, 9.53; N, 29.44; S, 16.85. Found: C, 44.19; H, 9.46; N, 29.56; S, 16.60.

A solution of 605 mg (5 mmol) of 2-acetylpyridine in 10 mL of MeCN was treated with 950 mg (5 mmol) of 4-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide and the solution was heated at reflux for 10 hr. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 6 with conc HBr and diluted with 15 mL of Et₂ O. An oil which separated from solution soon solidified. Crystallization of this product from MeOH-MeCN afforded 1.42 g (64%) of yellow crystals of 2-acetylpyridine 4-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone dihydrobromide, mp 231° C. dec.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₄ H₂₃ N₅ S.2HBr: C, 36.93; H, 5.54; N, 15.38; S, 7.04. Found: C, 36.99; H, 5.52; N, 15.30; S, 7.07.

EXAMPLE 4 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(3-fluorophenyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure A)

2-Acetylpyridine (2.0 g, 0.0165 mol) in 70 mL of EtOH and 2.78 g (0.015 mol) 4-(3-fluorophenyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide (mp 152°-155° C.) were heated at reflux temperature for 4 hr. The solution was refrigerated overnight and the product was collected. Recrystallization from MeCN afforded 1.1 g (25%) of 2-acetylpyridine 4-(3-fluorophenyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 159°-160° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₄ H₁₃ FN₄ S: C, 58.32; H, 4.54; N, 19.43; S, 11.12. Found: C, 57.87; H, 4.70; N, 19.41; S, 11.08.

EXAMPLE 5 2-Acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure B)

A solution of 10 g (0.044 mol) of methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate in 25 mL of MeOH was treated with 7.5 g (0.058 mol) of diisobutylamine and heated at reflux for 6 hr. The solution was chilled and the crystals which formed were collected. Recrystallization from 130 mL of heptane afforded 8.6 g (64%) of yellow needles of 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 96° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₆ H₂₆ N₄ S: C, 62.71; H, 8.55; N, 18.28; S, 10.46. Found: C, 63.27; H, 8.50; N, 18.14; S, 10.21.

EXAMPLE 6 Azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide (Procedure B)

A solution of 5.0 g (0.022 mol) of methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate in 15 mL of MeOH was treated with 2.2 g (0.022 mol) of hexamethyleneimine and heated at reflux for 5 hr. The solution was chilled, scratched and the product which separated was collected. Recrystallization from 150 mL of MeOH afforded 3.4 g (56%) of yellow needles of azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide, mp 165° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₄ H₂₀ N₄ S: C, 60.84; H, 7.29; N, 20.27; S, 11.60. Found: C, 60.91; H, 7.20, N, 20.30; S, 11.89.

EXAMPLE 7 3-Azabicyclo[3.2.2]heptane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide (Procedure B)

A solution of 3.8 g (0.018 mol) of methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate and 2.1 g (0.017 mol) of 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane was heated at reflux for 5 hr. The solution was cooled, and the product which crystallized was collected. Recrystallization from 160 mL of MeOH afforded 3.34 g (65%) of yellow needles of 3 azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide, mp 156° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₆ H₂₂ N₄ S: C, 63.54; H, 7.33; N, 18.53; S, 10.60. Found: C, 63.51; H, 7.25; N, 18.55; S, 10.67.

EXAMPLE 8 2-Acetylpyridine 4-cyclohexyl-4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure B)

A solution of 10 g (0.044 mol) of methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate in 25 mL of MeOH was treated with 7.5 g (0.066 mol) of N-methylcyclohexylamine and the solution heated at reflux for 8 hr. The solution was cooled overnight and the product which crystallized was collected. Recrystallization from cyclohexane afforded 9.3 g (72%) of 2-acetylpyridine 4-cyclohexyl-4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 96° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₅ H₂₂ N₄ S: C, 62.03; H, 7.64; N, 19.29; S, 11.04. Found: C, 62.07; H, 7.74; N, 19.23; S, 11.14.

EXAMPLE 9 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure B)

Methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate (4.51 g, 0.02 mol) and 3.64 g (0.03 mol) 2-methylbenzylamine in 25 mL of methanol were heated under reflux for 36 hr followed by overnight refrigeration. The solid material which separated from solution was collected by filtration and recrystallized 3 times from ethanol to afford 2.85 g (48%) of white crystalline 2-acetylpyridine 4-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone having a melting point of 152°-154° C.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₆ H₁₈ N₄ S: C, 64.40; H, 6.08; N, 18.78; S, 10.74. Found: C, 64.17; H, 6.23; N, 19.14; S, 10.64.

EXAMPLE 10 4-(2-Pyridyl)-1-piperazinethiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide (Procedure B)

Methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate (3.60 g, 0.016 mol) in 40 mL of EtOH was combined with 3.60 g (0.02 mol) of 1-(2-pyridyl)piperazine. The solution was heated at reflux for 18 hr, cooled and the yellow product which separated was collected. Recrystallization from MeCN afforded 3.45 g (60%) of 4-(2-pyridyl)-1-piperazinethiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide, mp 187°-188° C. dec.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₇ H₂₀ N₆ S: C, 59.98; H; 5.92; N, 24.69; S, 9.42. Found: C, 60.65; H, 5.90; N, 24.61; S, 9.41.

EXAMPLE 11 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(2-pyridyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure A)

4-(2-Pyridyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide (1.68 g, 0.01 mol) in 125 mL of EtOH and 7.5 mL of glacial acetic acid was treated with 1.21 g (0.01 mol) of 2-acetlypyridine. The solution was heated at reflux for 3 hr, cooled and the product collected. Recrystallization from MeCN afforded 1.8 g (66%) of 2-acetylpyridine 4-(2-pyridyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 185°-187° C. dec.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₃ H₁₃ N₅ S: C, 57.54; H, 4.83; N, 25.81; S, 11.82. Found: C, 57.03; H, 5.08; N, 25.96; S, 12.17.

EXAMPLE 12 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(1-adamantyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure A)

A solution of 1.5 g (0.03 mol) of hydrazine hydrate in 50 mL of EtOH was treated with 3.86 g (0.02 mol) of 1-adamantyl isothiocyanate, and stirred for 1 hr at room temp. The product was collected and washed 2 times with EtOH, affording 4.33 g (96%) of 4-(1-adamantyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide, mp 206°-207° C. dec. This thiosemicarbazide is disclosed in Chemical Abstracts, 70:11223 (1969); and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,180.

2-Acetylpyridine (2.65 g, 0.022 mol) in 50 mL of EtOH and 2 mL of glacial acetic acid was combined with 4.33 g (0.0195 mol) of 4-(1-adamantyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide, and the solution was heated at reflux for 24 hr. The solution was cooled and the product was collected. Recrystallization from MeCN afforded 3.63 g (50%) of 2-acetylpyridine 4-(1-adamantyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 172°-173° C. dec.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₈ H₂₄ N₄ S: C, 65.82; H, 7.36; N, 17.06; S, 9.76. Found: C, 66.04; H, 7.22; N, 16.88; S, 9.71.

EXAMPLE 13 2-Acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure A)

To a solution of 2.39 g (0.02 mol) of 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazide in 75 mL of EtOH was added 2.54 g (0.021 mol) of 2-acetylpyridine. After heating at reflux for 8 hr, the solution was cooled and the product was collected. Recrystallization from MeOH afforded 1.2 g (26%) of 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 149°-150° C. dec.

Analysis Calcd. for C₁₀ H₁₄ N₄ S: C, 54.03; H, 6.35; N, 25.20; S, 14.42. Found: C, 53.83; H, 6.74; N, 25.25; S, 14.72.

EXAMPLE 14 2-Acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Procedure B)

Methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate (9.02 g, 0.04 mol) in 30 mL of EtOH was combined with 5.2 g (0.08 mol) of dimethylamine (40% aqueous solution). The resulting solution was heated at reflux for 24 hr and the excess dimethylamine was removed under water-pump aspiration for 15 minutes. The solution was filtered and cooled to give 7.3 g (82%) of bright yellow crystals of 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone, mp 155°-156° whose infrared spectrum was identical to that of the product made by the method described in Example 13.

EXAMPLE 15 1-Azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)propylidene]hydrazide (Procedure B)

Methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)propylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate (4.77 g, 0.02 mol) and 3.4 mL (3.0 g, 0.03 mol) hexamethyleneimine in 25 mL of MeOH were heated under reflux for 48 hr followed by overnight refrigeration. The solid material which separated from solution was collected by filtration and recrystallized from MeOH to afford 3.65 g (63%) of yellow crystalline 1-azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)propylidene]hydrazide, mp 117°-119° C.

Analysis Calcd for C₁₅ H₂₂ N₄ S: C, 62.03; H, 7.64; N, 19.29; S, 11.04. Found: C, 62.14; H, 7.64; N, 19.14; S, 11.16.

Utility

The compounds of this invention possess medicinal activity. More specifically, evidence indicates that all the compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts demonstrate activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including penicillin-resistant strains, and are therefore useful in the treatment of gonorrhea. In addition, many compounds and salts are useful either in the treatment of malaria (active against Plasmodium berghei) or bacterial infection (active against Staphylococcus aureus; Group D Enterococcus; Neisseria meningitidis; Mycobacterium smegmatis; or Mycobacterium intracellulare).

Several tests have been made to determine the activity of the compounds of this invention. In order to guide one of ordinary skill in the practice of the invention, these tests are described below, as well as results obtained in each test with a representative sampling of compounds. Compounds are coded by letter as follows:

A. 2-Acetylpyridine 4-allyl-3-thiosemicarbazone

B. 2-Methylpiperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

C. 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(2-picolyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone

D. 2-Acetylpyridine 4-cyclohexyl-3-thiosemicarbazone

G. 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone

H. 1-Azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

I. 1,4-Diaza-4-carboethoxycyclohexane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

K. 1,4-Diaza-4-phenylcyclohexane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

L. 3-Azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

N. 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(2-methylbenzyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone

O. 2-Acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone

R. 2-Acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone

S. 2-Acetylpyridine 4-(1-adamantyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone

V. 1,4-Diaza-4-(2-pyridyl)cyclohexane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

W. 1,4-Diaza-4-(2-pyridyl)cyclohexane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide dihydrochloride

Z. 1-Azacyclotridecane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

AA. 2-Ethylpiperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

FF. Azetidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

GG. Piperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

HH. 1-Azacyclopentene-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide

JJ. 2-Propionylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone

Test 1

Compounds were tested against five isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and five isolates of Group D Enterococcus. The bacteria used were isolated from patients at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. The test procedure used was the macro broth dilution method in duplicate as outlined by J. C. Sherris on pages 414-415 in "Manual of Clinical Microbiology," 2nd ed., E. Lennette, E. H. Spaulding, and J. P. Truant, Ed. (American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C., 1974). Each compound was dissolved in DMSO (12.8 mg/mL) and then diluted with Mueller-Hinton broth to obtain the desired dilutions. Tubes containing the highest quantities of DMSO with no compound present were run as controls. The results were read after 24 hours and are summarized in Tables 1 and 2 below. DMSO controls showed no inhibition of bacterial growth.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (μg/mL)                                             Staphylococcus aureus isolates                                        Compound   I         II    III     IV  V                                       ______________________________________                                         B          1         1     1       1   1                                       D          0.5       0.5   0.5     1   0.5                                     L          1         1     1       1   1                                       N          2         2     2       2   1                                       O          0.5       --    1       0.5 0.5                                     S          2         2     4       2   1                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (μg/mL)                                            Group D Enterococcus isolates                                          Compound  I        II    III     IV    V                                       ______________________________________                                         D         4        8     8       >8    8                                       G         8        4     4       4     4                                       H         4        4     4       4     4                                       L         2        2     2       2     2                                       O         2        2     2       4     2                                       S         2        1     2       2     2                                       ______________________________________                                    

Test 2

Compounds were tested against five isolates of Neisseria meningitidis. The bacterial isolates were provided by the Department of Bacterial Diseases of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. The test procedure used was the macro broth dilution method in duplicate outlined by J. C. Sherris on pages 414-415 (loc. cit.). The test compounds and controls were prepared as in Test 1 above. Ampicillin and penicillin standards were initially diluted as described by J. C. Sherris on pages 411-412 (loc. cit.) followed by dilution with Mueller-Hinton broth. The tubes were incubated at 37° C. under 5-10% carbon dioxide. The test results were read after 24 hours and are summarized in Table 3 below. DMSO controls showed no inhibition of bacterial growth.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (μg/mL)                                            Neisseria meningitidis isolates                                        Compound  7957     7990   8005    8006 8011                                    ______________________________________                                         B         0.062    0.062  0.125   0.062                                                                               0.5                                     H         0.031    0.062  0.062   0.125                                                                               0.062                                   K         0.062    0.062  1.0     0.062                                                                               0.125                                   L         0.031    0.062  <0.031  0.062                                                                               0.125                                   O         0.062    0.125  0.5     0.062                                                                               0.5                                     R         0.062    0.125  0.062   0.062                                                                               0.125                                   V         0.062    0.125  0.125   0.125                                                                               0.25                                    Penicillin                                                                               0.031    0.031  --      0.031                                                                               0.031                                   Ampicillin                                                                               0.008    0.008  0.008   0.016                                                                               0.016                                   ______________________________________                                    

Test 3

Compounds were tested against six Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates. The bacteria used were provided by the Department of Bacterial Diseases of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. The test procedure used was the agar dilution method in duplicate as outlined by J. C. Sherris on pages 411-412 (loc. cit.). GC Medium (Difco) with a 2% defined supplement added as described by D. S. Kellogg et al. [J. Bact. 85:1274-1279 (1963)] was used as the media. The compounds were dissolved in DMSO (1.0 mg/mL), diluted with GC broth (GC Medium without agar) to the appropriate concentration, and added to the GC Medium at 55°-56° C. The latter was then poured and allowed to solidify. A penicillin standard was also prepared with initial dilutions as described by J. C. Sherris followed by dilutions with GC broth and addition to the GC Medium at 55°-56° C. as above. The inoculum was 1:200 GC broth dilution of a suspension of colony isolates after the suspension was adjusted visually to the turbidity standard described by J. M. Matsen and A. L. Barr on page 422 in "Manual of Clinical Microbiology," 2nd ed., E. Lennette, E. H. Spaulding, and J. P. Truant, Ed. (American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C., 1974). The plates were inoculated with a replicator and incubated at 37° C. under 5-10% carbon dioxide. The results were read after 24 hours and are summarized in Table 4 below. DMSO controls showed no inhibition.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (μg/mL)                                    Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates                                                 Compound                                                                               135      161      278   455    456  602                                ______________________________________                                         H       0.031    0.016    0.031 0.031  0.016                                                                               0.031                              K       0.031    <0.008   0.031 0.031  0.016                                                                               0.031                              L       0.031    0.016    0.031 0.031  0.031                                                                               0.031                              R       0.004    0.004    0.008 0.008  0.008                                                                               0.008                              V       0.016    <0.008   0.031 0.016  0.016                                                                               0.016                              GG      0.008    0.004    0.008 0.008  0.008                                                                               0.008                              HH      0.008    0.004    0.008 0.008  0.008                                                                               0.008                              JJ      0.016    0.004    0.016 0.008  0.008                                                                               0.008                              Penicillin                                                                             0.25     0.125    <0.062                                                                               0.125  >16  >16                                ______________________________________                                    

Test 4

Compounds were tested against four strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis. The test procedure used was as mentioned by N. E. Morrison [Int. J. of Leprosy 39:34-43 (1971)]. The results are summarized in Table 5 below. The strain numbers refer to Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 607, a DDS-resistant daughter strain, a Rifampin-resistant daughter strain, and a Clofazimine-resistant daughter strain, respectively.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (μg/mL)                                               Mycobacterium smegmatis strains                                     Compound     I        II       III    IV                                       ______________________________________                                         A            <1       <1       <1     <1                                       R            2        3        2      2                                        W            6        10       5      6                                        Y            5        4        10     10                                       AA           5        10       10     10                                       FF           2        2        <1     <1                                       HH           2        3        2      4                                        DDS          2        400      --     --                                       Rifampin     1        --       250    --                                       Clofazimine  1.5      --       --     20                                       ______________________________________                                    

Test 5

Compounds were tested against Plasmodium berghei KBG 173 malaria in mice following the procedure described by T. S. Osdene, P. B. Russell, and L. Rane [J. Med. Chem. 10:431-434 (1967)]. Five mice were tested at each dosage level. Mice surviving 60 days are considered cured. Toxicity is defined as a decrease in the mean survival time of the treated mice as compared to the control group. Activity is defined as a 100% increase in the mean survival time of the treated mice compared to the control group. The ED₅₀ is a computed estimate of the dose required to cure 50% of the mice. The results are summarized in Table 6 below.

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     In vivo Antimalarial Activity                                                         Dosage Level (mg/kg)                                                                                       ED.sub.50                                   Compound                                                                              10  20  40  80  160 320 640 (mg/kg)                                     __________________________________________________________________________     B      --  --  C(1/5)                                                                             C(4/5)                                                                             Active                                                                             Toxic                                                                              Toxic                                                                              57                                          H      --  --  Active                                                                             C(4/5)                                                                             C(3/5)                                                                             C(2/5)                                                                             C(2/5)                                                                             72                                          I      Active                                                                             Active                                                                             C(2/5)                                                                             --  Toxic                                                                              --  Toxic                                                                              --                                          L      --  C(1/5)                                                                             C(2/5)                                                                             C(3/5)                                                                             C(4/5)                                                                             --  --  59                                          V      --  --  C(1/5)                                                                             C(5/5)                                                                             C(2/5)                                                                             --  Toxic                                                                              45                                          AA     --  --  --  C(1/5)                                                                             C(4/5)                                                                             C(2/5)                                                                             --  113                                         __________________________________________________________________________       C = Cure                                                                

Test 6

Compounds were tested against six strains of Mycobacterium intracellulare. The test procedure used was a broth dilution technique described by A. L. Barry on pages 92-104 in "The Antimicrobic Susceptibility Test: Principles and Practices," (Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, PA, 1976). The compounds were dissolved in and diluted with DMSO and added to tubes of 7H9 broth. Tubes containing the same quantities of DMSO and broth but no compound were run as controls. All tubes were incubated at 35° C. The results are summarized in Table 7 below. DMSO controls showed no inhibition of bacterial growth.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (μg/mL)                                             Mycobacterium intracellulare strains                                  Compound   I     II      III IV     V    VI                                    ______________________________________                                         H           1    1       1   1      1    1                                     L          10    1       1   0.1    0.1  0.1                                   S          10    1       1   10     10   10                                    Z          10    1       1   10     10   10                                    AA         10    1       1   1      10   10                                    ______________________________________                                     

We claim:
 1. A method for treating an animal which has a bacterial infection selected from the group consisting of Group D Enterococcus, and Neisseria meningitidis by administering to said animal a therapeutically-effective amount of:(a) a pyridine thiosemicarbazone derivative selected from the compounds represented by the formula: ##STR9## or (b) a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt thereof wherein R is methyl or ethyl; and R₁ is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; cycloalkyl having 3 to 10 carbon atoms; substituted alkyl (wherein the substituent is amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, cycloalkyl, hydroxy, COO alkyl, phenyl, or pyridyl); alkenyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; alkynyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; substituted benzyl (wherein the substituent is methyl or phenyl on the alpha carbon atom, or the substituent is alkyl, dialkyl, halo, dihalo, or alkoxy on the phenyl ring); adamantyl; phenyl; naphthyl; substituted phenyl or substituted naphthyl (wherein the ring is mono-, di-, or trisubstituted and the substituents are alkyl, halo, alkoxy, hydroxy, phenoxy, trifluoromethyl, dialkylamino, dialkylaminoalkyl, or COO alkyl); or pyridyl, and R₂ is hydrogen or is selected from the group of radicals listed above for R₁, in which case R₁ and R₂ may be the same or different; or R₁ and R₂ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of:(1) alkylenimino having 3 to 13 carbon atoms; (2) alkylenimino, having 3 to 13 carbon atoms, which may contain one double bond and/or is mono- or disubstituted with alkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, or benzyl; (3) alkylenimino, having 3 to 13 carbon atoms, which is either bridged by an ankylene group, or is fused to a phenyl ring, or is attached by a spiro linkage to an ethylene ketal group; and (4) homopiperazinyl; homopiperazinyl substituted with alkyl; piperazinyl; or piperazinyl substituted with alkyl, dialkyl, phenyl, COO alkyl, trifluoromethylphenyl, halophenyl, benzyl, or pyridyl; provided that: when R₂ is hydrogen, then R₁ cannot be ethyl, isopropyl, or monochlorophenyl.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone derivative is selected from the compounds represented by the formula: ##STR10## wherein R is methyl or ethyl; and R₁ is ethyl, isopropyl, or monochlorophenyl.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein R is methyl and R₁ is ethyl.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein R is methyl and R₁ is isopropyl.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein R is methyl and R₁ is monochlorophenyl.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein R is ethyl and R₁ is ethyl.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein R is ethyl and R₁ is isopropyl.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein R is ethyl and R₁ is monochlorophenyl.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone derivatives are represented by the formula: ##STR11## wherein R is methyl or ethyl; and R₁ and R₂ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of (1) alkylenimino having 3 to 13 carbon atoms; and (2) alkylenimino having 3 to 13 carbon atoms which may have one double bond and/or is mono- or disubstituted with alkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, or benzyl.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein R is methyl.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein R is ethyl.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is azetidino.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is pyrrolidino.
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is piperidino.
 15. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is methylpiperidino.
 16. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is ethylpiperidino.
 17. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is hexamethylenimino.
 18. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is azacyclotridecyl.
 19. The method of claim 10 wherein NR₁ R₂ is hexamethylenimino.
 20. The method of claim 1 wherein the bacterial infection is D Entercoccus.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is selected from the group consisting of 2-acetylpyridine 4-cyclohexyl-3-thiosemicarbazone; 2-acetylpyridine 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone; 1-azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide; 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]-nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazine; 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone; and 2-acetylpyridine 4-(1-adamantyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4-cyclohexyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 1-azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 25. The method of claim 21 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]-nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridine)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 26. The method of claim 21 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 27. The method of claim 21 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4-(1-adamantyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 28. The method of claim 1 wherein the bacterial infection is Neisseria meningitidis.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is selected from the group consisting of 2-methylpiperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]-hydrazide; 1-azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide; 1,4-diaza-4-phenylcyclohexane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide; 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]-nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide; and 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-methylpiperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 31. The method of claim 29 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 1-azacycloheptane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 32. The method of claim 29 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 1,4-diaza-4-phenyl-cyclohexane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 33. The method of claim 29 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]-nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)-ethylidene]hydrazide.
 34. The method of claim 29 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 35. A method for treating an animal which has a mycobacterium smegmatis bacterial infection by administering to said animal a therapeutically-effective amount of:(a) a pyridine thiosemicarbazone derivative selected from the compunds represented by the formula: ##STR12## or (b) a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt thereof wherein R is methyl or ethyl; and NR₁ R₂ is ##STR13##
 36. The method of claim 25 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4-allyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 37. The method of claim 35 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 38. The method of claim 4 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-ethylpiperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 39. The method of claim 4 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is azetidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 40. The method of claim 4 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 1-azacyclopentane-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 41. The method of claim 35 wherein NR₁ R₂ is ##STR14##
 42. The method of claim 41 wherein NR₁ NR₂ is NHC₂ H₅.
 43. The method of claim 41 wherein NR₁ R₂ is ##STR15##
 44. A method for treating an animal which has a mycobacterium intracellulare bacterial infection by administering to said animal a therapeutically-effective amount of:(a) a pyridine thiosemicarbazone derivative selected from the compounds represented by the formula: ##STR16## or (b) a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt thereof wherein R is methyl or ethyl; and R₁ R₂ is ##STR17##
 45. The method of claim 44 wherein NR₁ R₂ is ##STR18##
 46. The method of claim 7 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 47. A method for treating an animal which has a bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus areus which comprises administering to said animal a therapeutically-effective amount of:(a) a pyridine thiosemicarbazone derivative selected from the compounds represented by the formula: ##STR19## or (b) a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt thereof wherein R is methyl or ethyl; and R₁ is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; cycloalkyl having 3 to 10 carbon atoms; substituted alkyl (wherein the substituent is amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, cycloalkyl, hydroxy, COO alkyl, phenyl, or pyridyl); alkenyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; alkynyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; substituted benzyl (wherein the substituent is methyl or phenyl on the alpha carbon atom, or the substituent is alkyl, dialkyl, halo, dihalo, or alkoxy on the phenyl ring); adamantyl; phenyl; naphthyl; substituted phenyl or substituted naphthyl (wherein the ring is mono-, di-, or trisubstituted and the substituents are alkyl, halo, alkoxy, hydroxy, phenoxy, trifluoromethyl, dialkylamino, dialkylaminoalkyl, or COO alkyl); or pyridyl, and R₂ is selected from the group of radicals listed above for R₁, in which case R₁ and R₂ may be the same or different; or R₁ and R₂ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of:(1) alkylenimino having 3 to 13 carbon atoms; (2) alkylenimino, having 3 to 13 carbon atoms, which may contain one double bond and/or is mono- or disubstituted with alkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, or benzyl; (3) alkylenimino, having 3 to 13 carbon atoms, which is either bridged by an alkylene group, or is fused to a phenyl ring, or is attached by a spiro linkage to an ethylene ketal group; and (4) homopiperazinyl; homopiperazinyl substituted with alkyl; piperazinyl; or piperazinyl substituted with alkyl, dialkyl, phenyl, COO alkyl, trifluoromethylphenyl, halophenyl, benzyl, or pyridyl; provided that: when R₂ is hydrogen, then R₁ cannot be ethyl, isopropyl, or monochlorophenyl.
 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is selected from the group consisting of 2-methylpiperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide; 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)-ethylidene]hydrazide; and 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.
 49. The method of claim 48 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-methylpiperidine-1-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 50. The method of claim 48 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazide.
 51. The method of claim 48 wherein the pyridine thiosemicarbazone is 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-diisobutyl-3-thiosemicarbazone. 